They’re coming out of the woodwork to point out the perils of driving and dialing.
Cellular phones can cause distractions, says a new report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Driver distraction is a primary or contributing factor in up to half of all auto crashes, according to NHTSA.
The majority (84 percent) of cell phone users believe driving while using their phones will increase the chance of an accident, but 61 percent continue to do so anyway, according to a survey from an independent firm founded by property-casualty organizations.
In Colorado, a bill is being introduced that would create a secondary traffic offense for negligent use of a cellular phone will driving (similar to failing to wear a seatbelt). If a driver is guilty of such an offense and causes an accident, four points would be taken off the driver’s license.
And this is just January.
Will auto insurance rates increase for people who are known cell phone users? I doubt it, but it may be time for a cohesive public-relations effort to either encourage people to pull over and dial, go hands-free or just try to make it socially unacceptable to drive 75 and dial.
People are not going to stop using their phones. They like them too much. And I don’t even want to get into the personal responsibility issue, nor should we debate the benefits vs. the dangers of having a cell phone in one’s car.
But every time there is an accident and someone can blame a cell phone, it’s an (undeserved) ugly mark on the wireless industry.
